The
WORLD FEDERATION for MENTAL HEALTH (WFMH) is
an international, multi-professional non-governmental organization (NGO),
including citizen volunteers and former patients. It was founded in 1948 in
the same era as the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization
(WHO). For many years, led mainly by psychiatrists focused on social,
peace-related and human rights issues, it was the only international mental
health NGO consulting with UN agencies. Since the late 1990s, as a global
alliance of national mental health associations focused mainly on
traditional mental health issues and on prevention and promotion, it has
continued its long-time collaboration with WHO. Its policy concerns and
those of international professional associations such as the WPA could be
mutually advanced through partnerships aimed at achieving common goals. Read
more:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1414666/ and
http://www.wfmh.global/wfmh/history/

By some
estimates, mental illness affects one in four individuals at some point during
life. However, even though mental illness is a common occurrence, stigma
attached to it is still rampant. American and European societies have developed
a great amount of sensitivity to a variety of issues surrounding discrimination;
considering this “great sensitivity,” why is it that such great stigma is still
attached to mental illness? This stigma not only affects an individual’s
self-esteem but can prevent one from the basic functions needed to succeed in
life. For instance, many employers ask questions regarding past mental health
issues during the hiring process and, according to one advocacy group, fewer
than 20 percent of those with serious mental illness are able to hold down a
job.

Many of the
improper ideas that the public has about mental illness are created by literary
fiction, TV drama and film, even television news-reporting and news
publications. For this reason, the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) has
begun a publications program to target media leaders. “The Lexicon:
International Media Guide for Mental Health” is a guide to be placed in the
hands of senior journalists across the world that gives both information on
different types of mental illness as well as examples of appropriate language
for discussion. The Lexicon is one of many initiatives by WFMH to end the stigma
associated with mental illness, stigma that, according to a recent survey
conducted by AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical company, is felt by 88 percent of
individuals with bipolar disorder. The following is an excerpt of an article
from Medical News Today that discusses the WFMH initiative more:

The WFMH and six
other patient advocacy groups recently collaborated on a publishing initiative
for journalists titled “The Lexicon: International Media guide for Mental
Health” with the help of an educational grant from AstraZeneca. “The Lexicon”
has been designed in consultation with people with first-hand experience of
mental illness as well as senior journalists, to help journalists promote
responsible and accurate coverage of mental health issues and to give a balanced
perspective. Journalists can consult “The Lexicon” when writing news stories
involving a mentally disturbed person to select appropriate terminology and to
write with sensitivity instead of opting for pejorative labels. It includes
expert contact details, facts and statistics about mental illness, the correct
definition of much misused terms like “schizophrenic” and “split personality”,
and gives examples of good and bad reporting.

Discussing “The
Lexicon” at a recent AstraZeneca media event, WFMH immediate past president Dr
Patt Franciosi said: “It shows journalists how to replace words that hurt with
words that could help”. Instead of terms no better than playground insults such
as “nutter”, “psycho”, “schizo” and “sicko”, The Lexicon suggests instead using
the person’s correct diagnosis or a term such as “disturbed” which does not
carry condemnation. Before publishing a story involving a mentally ill person,
Dr Franciosi suggests journalists should ask themselves if mentioning a
diagnostic label is relevant. She advises. “Read it through and ask yourself –
is this offensive? If it involved a relative of yours, would you want someone to
say that about them?” The Lexicon is available from the website
www.forum4mentalhealth.com/lexicon.

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